Residence link with Passport

21/12/2015

I have a query about my son who is on a dependent visa. His passport validity is until the end of June 2016. He is currently having a visa validity until August, 2016. I am planning to renew his passport in April or June 2016 before its expiry and then transfer his current visa to the new passport.

Is this OK as per the new rule. Or do I need to renew his passport before the new rule on “passport — visa link validity” is implemented in January 2016. Please clarify

Name withheld Answer: First of all you need to understand the “new” law. We would like to stress that the law on the issue is not new at all and was enacted some five decades ago, it was really never implemented.

It was only earlier this year that the Ministry of Interior (through the Immigration Department ) decided to strictly implement the law. And from January 1, 2016 anyone in violation of this law will be penalized with the cancellation of his residence.

The law clearly says that the “residency of expatriates will be linked to the validity of their passports” which means no expatriate’s residency –when renewed –will exceed their passports validity and if the passports expire so does the residence.

In such cases, the residency of these passport holders will only be renewed once they renew their passports.

This means that even when expatriates only get renewal stamps affixed –without getting new passports — on their old passports they still have to inform the Immigration Department. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the residence.

In case people get their passports renewed abroad and return to Kuwait they have show both the passports at the border post, Kuwait Airport or otherwise. They then have one month to transfer their residence to the new passports.

Now those who get new passports while Kuwait, have two months to transfer the residence to the new passports.

In your case, you don’t have to worry about anything. You don’t need to get a new passport for your daughter right now.

All you need to ensure is that you get a new passport for your daughter before the current one expires and transfer her residence to the new document.

So, don’t worry about anything for the moment but get a new passport for your daughter by June and communicate the same immediately to the Interior Ministry.